The eyes of the United States have been on the state of Wisconsin. Thousands of people have occupied the streets of Madison, the state capital, to protest a wide ranging bill put forth by Governor Scott Walker. Much of the protest has been about the provisions of the bill that would severely restrict the rights of public employees to collectively bargain.
The protesters have also been questioning the relationship of Governor Walker to the powerful Koch brothers, industrialists who have backed the governor.
But, a little known protest focused on a little known provision in the bill that may have a negative impact on the state’s disabled population.
Disabled Activists Occupy GOP Headquarters
About 25 people, some in wheelchairs, occupied the state Republican Party headquarters, in Madison February 24. Their objection: A provision in the bill that would grant a large amount of authority over federal Medicaid funds that come into the state, to a man who has advocated that states opt of Medicaid. The disability advocates say that such funds are needed to keep them out of institutions and in independent living arrangements.
Whether or not Department of Health Services, Dennis Smith would take Wisconsin out of participating in Medicaid is unclear. What is clear is that he has advocated the idea.
Smith wrote for the Heritage Foundation website,
“On a state-by-state basis, every state except North Dakota would come out ahead financially by leaving Medicaid but continuing long-term care spending with state-only dollars. Of course, if North Dakota reduced its long-term care spending, it too would come out ahead.”
But the activists who occupied the Republican Party, say that federal Medicaid are vital to maintaining their independence and contributions to society.
A Demand for Independence
While the occupation of the capitol building lasted days, this occupation only lasted two hours.
One of the protesters, Barbara Vedder is Dane County Board member. She also uses a wheelchair. She told the Capital Times newspaper,
"We are able to be in our home with jobs and be productive members of society because of Medicaid. We don't want to be put into nursing homes. This budget bill is not repairing us. It is destroying us!"
Whether its union members, or the disabled there seems to be plenty of provisions in this wide-ranging bill to upset a lot of people. Since Republicans control both houses of the Wisconsin legislature and since the bill has already passed the assembly, the bill will probably pass in some form.
What remains to be seen is how long the protesters will keep the pressure on.
Source:
Doherty, Shawn "Vital Signs: Disability rights activists stage protest inside state GOP headquarters" The Cap Times February 26, 2011.
Jon Pike - Pike is a Ph.D. in communication and writes about activism and popular culture topics for Suite101.
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